ODART Sweep Junior Podium at BC Provincial Para Alpine Championships

Will Goessaert, Mike Whitney and Kaemon Dubeau trained this April with the Canadian National Team. Sponsored by Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) and lead by Michael Clarke, Head Coach CDAST, the boys tore up the slopes for 3 days at Canada’s largest mountain, Whistler, BC. The invite was followed their excellent showing at the Canadian Nationals.

Following the camp, Will, Mike and Kaemon stayed to represent Ontario in the BC Provincial Para Alpine Championship, sponsored by the Disabled Skiing Association of BC, with a field of 44 racers.

Mike Whitney lead the podium for Ontario with a 3rd place bronze medal in the Men’s Standing category and lead the Junior category with a 1st place Gold medal! Will and Kaemon completed the medal sweep in the Junior Category with Silver and Bronze respectfully.
Congratulations to the 3 Musketeers for an outstanding effort and the best showing ODART has ever had at the BC Provincial Championship.

A special thank you to our sponsors, volunteers and parents that made all this possible for the team. “Chaperone Mom Whitney” managed a number of runs in the sunshine between showing the boys how to navigate their way through the airports, buses, transit systems, restaurants and schedules and yet finding a way to send back reports. Sounds like coaching material!

Also thank you to Alpine Canada Coaches Mike and Lasse for and excellent camp and their continued support.

Congrats Will, Mike and Kaemon for finishing off the ODART racing season on an exceptional high!

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Great video using simple english is posted on Coach Bob's personal site. Click the Title to view.

Ontario Athletes Fair Well at Canadian Para Alpine Ski Championships

The Ontario Disabled Alpine Racing Team turned in a great effort at the Canadian Para Alpine Ski Championships at Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia last week. The team was represented by 11 athletes, all of whom enjoyed varying degrees of success at this year’s Canadian Championships.

In the women’s category, National Team member Melanie Schwartz of Toronto lead the way with 4th place finishes in the giant slalom and first slalom race, then showed her true colours by capturing the silver medal in the final slalom race of the week long event. Alexandra Creighton of Toronto by way of Queens University, had finishes of 8th, 9th, and 10th place in the overall standings, while taking 4th place in the junior category in one slalom race, third place in the other junior slalom, and brought home the silver medal in the junior girl’s giant slalom. Veteran Jan Hymers of Brampton was her usual consistent self, finishing 9th, 10th, and 11th in the GS, and 2 slaloms respectively. Rookie racer Sandy Robinson pushed herself beyond the limit in getting disqualified in the first 2 events, but rebounded nicely finishing 9th overall in the final slalom, and claiming 3rd prize in the junior category.

Blind racer Ken Roche of Kitchener along with guide Mike Normaneau of Toronto, had solid runs in all 3 events, taking 4th in the GS and one slalom, and taking 3rd place in the other slalom event.

The men were led by National Team member Jeff Dickson of Sudbury, who took 4th in the first slalom, bronze in the giant slalom, and captured silver in the final slalom event. James Binsfeld of King City had another solid week taking 5th place in the GS and also in the final slalom race. Veteran Neil Mosburger of Kitchener had a 12th place finish in one slalom, eighth in the GS, and had the spectacular crash of the week in the final slalom race. He did get up and ski away to a roaring gallery at the finish. The junior men also had some impressive results. Will Goessaert of Toronto was 9th overall in the giant slalom and final slalom while taking 4th place junior honours in both races. William showed his best side in the other slalom event finishing fifth overall, and bringing home the bronze medal to Ontario in the junior division. Mike Whitney of North Bay was 11th overall and 5th as a junior in the GS, and was 7th overall and 3rd as a junior in the final slalom race. Kaemon Dubeau, also from North Bay, looked good at his first ever Canadian Championship, taking 13th overall and 6th as a junior in the GS, and 11th overall and 5th as a junior in the last slalom race. All 3 juniors will be attending the Canadian National Junior training camp at Whistler Mountain later this month.

The Ontario Disabled Alpine Racing Team wishes to thank all its coaches, parents, and volunteers for their support during the Canadian Championships. We would also like to thank our sponsors for their never ending support as well. To Alpine Ontario for the beautiful green team jackets that were the talk of the village at Sun Peaks. To Ski Rossignol Canada for their ongoing support, as well as Parasport Ontario, and the many host ski clubs of Ontario, without whom this team would not be able to exist and compete as we do. They include; Hidden Valley, Talisman, Horseshoe, Beaver Valley, Hockley, Craigleith, Georgian Peaks, Devil’s Glen, Caledon, and Osler Resorts.

Thanks again to all for another great season, and stay tuned for the annual ODART awards event later this spring.

Coach Hackett